CHAP. IV. PLAN OF DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY. 223 



4. Engravings. Engravings of certain species and varieties, to a scale of 

 two inches to a foot, with the flowers and other parts which are less than 

 an inch in diameter of their natural size, are given along with the text. 



A. Engravings of the Trees only are given in the plates which form a separate 

 volume. The engravings in these plates are of three kinds : first, there is 

 the general figure of the tree, after being ten years planted in the climate of 

 the environs of London, to a scale of one fourth of an inch to a foot. 

 Secondly, on the same plate with the entire tree, are given engravings of 

 botanical specimens in flower, and in fruit, with the winter's wood in the 

 case of deciduous trees, to a scale of 2 in. to 1 ft.; and, when the flowers 

 or fruits are smaller than an inch across, they are given of their natural 

 size. Thirdly, engravings of full-grown trees of a number of the species 

 are given ; and, on the same plate, a specimen of the leaves to the usual 

 scale of 2 in. to 1 ft. The use of the engravings of the entire trees, of ten 

 years' growth, is to give a palpable idea of the comparative progress of 

 hardy trees during that period, in a given soil and situation ; and the use 

 of the portraits of full-grown trees, all of which are taken from indivi- 

 duals within ten miles of London, is to give a palpable idea of the mag- 

 nitude and general figure which the particular species assume, when full 

 grown. These full-grown trees are drawn to the scale of one twelfth 

 of an inch to a foot. The trees, whether full grown, or of ten years' 

 growth, and the botanical specimens given along with them, are always 

 referred to as plates ; while the engravings of those species and varieties 

 which are given along with the text are referred to as figures. 



B. Pictorial Signs. At the commencement of each genus, or sectional 

 division of a genus, will be placed a pictorial sign, or signs, indicating 

 whether the species to be described are trees or shrubs, deciduous or ever- 

 green, climbers, twiners, trailers, or creepers, &c. ; and also to indicate 

 whether they are of the first, second, or third degrees of height, of each 

 of these habits. Before each species and variety will be placed one of 

 the signs in our Hortus Britannicus. 



5. Descriptions. 



A. Descriptive Details. These will commence with the root, and proceed 

 in the order of stem, leaves, stipules, inflorescence, bracteas, flowers, 

 and fruit. 



a. The Root will be considered in regard to figure, quality, substance, 

 bark, duration, direction, rootlets, fibres, spongioles, susceptibility of 

 producing buds when made into cuttings, liability to throw up suckers 

 naturally, magnitude relatively to age, soil, native habitat and artificial 

 location ; impulsion, or when it is in most vigorous growth ; and hiber- 

 nation, or when it is in a state of rest. 



b. The Stem will be considered in regard to its figure, direction, duration, 

 articulation, surface, bark, ramification, branches, branchlets, twigs, 

 height relatively to age, native habitat, and artificial locality. 



c. The Leaves will be viewed with reference to their vernation, internal 

 structure, figure, articulation, insertion, circumscription (that'is, outline, 

 base, and apex), surface, subface, venation, direction, colour, texture, and 

 duration. The Petiole will be considered as to its absence or presence ; 

 and in the latter case its form, surface, texture, length, breadth, vari- 

 ation, duration, &c. 



d. The Stipules will be considered with reference to position, texture, sur- 

 face, insertion, figure, magnitude, and duration. 



e. The Inflorescence ■, or mode in which flowers are disposed upon a plant, 

 will be examined as to its kind and position. 



f. The Bracteas will be examined under conditions similar to those pre- 

 scribed for the leaves. 



g. The Flower will be considered in regard to first appearance, first ex- 

 pansion, colour, magnitude, length of time it continues expanded 

 before it begins to fade, whether the flowering of the whole plant is 



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